Saturday 31 August
Kick Off 3.00pm
Games between the Glens and the Reds are never dull affairs and that should continue at the Bet McLean Oval on Saturday.
Cliftonville surprised many last season – after enduring a difficult close season that followed on from a failure to qualify for Europe and with the appointment of manager Jim Magilton proving initially controversial – by finishing 3rd in the table and ending their 45 year wait to claim an Irish Cup victory.
That euphoria has been dampened somewhat, however, by a string of departures over the summer: forwards Ronan Hale and Ben Wilson – who scored 32 league goals between them – have headed to Ross County and Airdrie respectively in Scotland and fellow forward Sam Ashford has returned to England to join National League side Wealdstone. With long serving midfielder and club captain Chris Curran retiring and wingers Stephen Mallon and Jamie McDonagh also departing, manager Magilton has seen his attacking options greatly reduced.
The club have brought in Luton Town midfielder Alex Piesold (on loan), ex Portsmouth forward Destiny Ojo and former Glentoran man Rory Donnelly to try and redress the balance in that department, while the permanent signing of attacking left back and NI Under 21 International Sean Stewart from Norwich City is a significant coup at the other end of the pitch, along with the arrivals of Michael Newbury from Linfield and the experienced Luke Conlan from AFC Fylde.
Despite these changes, the Reds have made a solid start to the league campaign, following a disappointing exit from European competition at the hands of Latvian side FK Auda. They won their first three matches against Portadown, Glenavon and Dungannon Swifts before ending that 100% start with a 1-1 draw with North Belfast rivals Crusaders. Goal scoring has so far fallen to the returning Ryan Curran and the ever-lethal veteran Joe Gormley, netting two apiece of the five league goals scored to date.
In last season’s Oval meetings, Glentoran came out on top last September after a late solo effort from Niall McGinn secured a 1-0 victory.

The second game in February, however, proved less fruitful, with a comfortable 2-0 half time lead squandered when Odhrán Casey’s injury time header added to a Rory Hale strike just after the interval to secure the Reds a point, a game that summed up much of what frustrated Glens supporters throughout last season.

Rory Donnelly missed the Crues game after being substituted against Dungannon, while midfielder Ronan Hale has not featured yet this campaign due to injury.
Declan Devine: “Last week’s win at Carrick showed a fantastic character from the lads with our third game in six days at a really difficult venue against a really good team under Stuart. David Fisher was outstanding despite the speculation that was surrounding him and Frankie Hvid is really growing into this league. Also I thought James Douglas was magnificent in the middle of the park at only 18 years of age and in only his second start for Glentoran.

Three good points won and seven points out of nine in less than a week was the least the players deserved. We’ll take that.
“By the time this match kicks off the window will be closed so you’ll know whether we’ve been able to further strengthen in the areas we wanted. Rest assured we’ll have tried our eye strings out right up to the deadline. We’ve recruited well at the time I’m writing this and hopefully we’ll have finished the job. But either way we’ll be in decent shape for the next four months.
“On Saturday we’re facing one of the other teams expected to challenge at the top this season so we know we’re in for a good battle. The two lineups will be very different from the last time we met at Solitude in April but we’re familiar with how Jim and Skin like their teams to play. The Reds have had a good start to the season and I’m happy with how we’re progressing so this should be a good one to watch.”
Tickets for this game can be purchased HERE.
IMPORTANT SUPPORTER NOTICES

The Board of Directors remind supporters that under no circumstance is anyone permitted to bring flares, fireworks or any other sort of pyrotechnic equipment into the Bet McLean Oval at any time. These are highly dangerous to other supporters and potentially to players. Any breach of this rule will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Persons breaking this rule will receive a lifetime ban from the Bet McLean Oval and will be reported to the police.
We strongly request that supporters respect the rights of the local residents by parking well away from housefronts in the immediate locality. There is plenty of available parking at the Holywood Arches Heath Centre.
The Railway Stand will unfortunately be closed for this game due to some essential maintenance work currently being undertaken by the club with the support of NIFL.